I am making the leap
 

I have decided to go SS. Right now I have a hard tail mostly for dirt jumping and I was wondering what the best kit would be for me?

I found this kit and was wondering if this is all I would need to go ss?Kit I found.
Also, what is everyone's favorite gear ratio for dirt jumping? Can you use a bash gaurd with single speed? How might I make my chain shorter if there is no "master link" on it?

You might find some useful information in this Sheldon Brown Singlespeed article. As far as gear ratio goes that's up to you. I don't really know anything about dirt jumping, but as long as you can get up to speed without having your legs look like two Spinjas going at it you should be all right.
http://www.millionaireplayboy.com/im...injalineup.jpg

to make your chain shorter, use a chain tool. google the phrase.

gear ratio is a personal preference in any type of riding

grind the larger chainring teeth down, and they can serve as a bash-guard, if you feel you need one.

the kit looks fine, but you could diy something cheaper with your old cassette, pvc pipe, and a old crappo derailler.

You might not need any kit of parts to go singlespeed, depending on what bike you have that you're goiing to convert.

Gearing is a personal preference based on the muscles in your legs and what you mean by dirt jumping. If you already go dirt jumping then you must have a favorite gear you use already. 32x16 or a 2:1 ratio is supposedly the favorite dirt ratio but jumping might mean something else.

I use this chart alot to decide about gearing:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/resources/gearchart.jpg

Master Links, your bike shop will have them and tell you how to use them and sell you a chain tool as well. sorry don't have a weblink handy.

good luck.

I have a chain tool. I was wondering, since both ends of the pins on the chain have flanged ends, how would I go about getting the pin out to be able to tighten the chain?

If it's a Shimano, take it a to a shop. A different kind of pin has to be put in. If you reuse a shimano pin, the chain will likely fall apart on you when you least want it to.

for a minute I thought you were talking about SRAM's new road gruppo. Man, what a dissapointment...

Using a chain tool

Tighten the chain tool onto the chain pin. Be sure it is lined up exactly.

Begin to remove the pin. You will notice three phases of resistence as the pin comes out:
--First, it will be very tight as the pin clears the sideplate closest to you
--Second, the pin will move easily, while the chain tool is pushing through the middle
--Last, the pin will begin to give more resistance. STOP. DO NOT let the pin come all the way out. Leave it sticking out of the end of the sideplate. Try to remove the chain by lightly trying to "break" it as one would break a small twig. If that doesn't work, re-insert the chain tool and remove one more milimeter of pin.

To put back together, just line up the chain again inside the chain tool, and push the pin back into the chain. When its back in, it will be very stiff, which is solved by lube, but mostly by lateral pressure (the twig breaking motion, but harder.)